Akufo-Addo to announce sweeping changes to COVID-19 protocols at Kotoka Airport on Sunday

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Sunday, March 27, 2022 announce sweeping changes to the country’s COVID-19 protocols in place at the Kotoka International Airport.

AviationGhana sources say, the President is expected to announce an end to the antigen test on arrival for fully vaccinated passengers.

Unvaccinated passengers, however, the sources say, will be required to present a negative PCR on arrival and take the antigen test before being admitted into the country or otherwise.

The matter was fully discussed at the just-ended 3day Cabinet retreat at Peduase and the decision arrived at, after input from the COVID-19 task force, a source said.

The Nigeria, Ouagadougou, Liberia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Madagascar, and a host of other countries have all made sweeping changes to COVID-19 protocols that were in place at various airports

Most countries have limited pre-departure PCR tests to only unvaccinated passengers and abolished PCR tests on arrival.

Others also have in place the requirement for a 72-hour pre-departure PCR test only with no need for a test on arrival.

Intact, some airlines now do not require passengers to wear face mask.

British Airways became the biggest airliner to remove its mask mandate on March 16, 2022.

“The legal requirement to wear a face-covering has now been removed in England and Wales and we have updated our face mask policy.

“Customers are no longer required to wear a mask at some airports in England. However, as an international airline flying all around the world, we are obliged to ensure our customers continue to comply with local restrictions and meet the requirements of the destination they arrive at,” the airline said last week.

Background
Ghana on September 1, 2020 re-opened the Kotoka International Airport for scheduled passenger operations, after six months of closure, with a stringent testing regime in place.

Passengers were required to pay US$150 for the COVID-19 test online prior to arrival in Ghana, have their receipts verified before proceeding to the sampling cubicles located at Upper Arrival of Terminal 3, KIA for their samples to be taken.

Results are then transmitted electronically to Port Health in the main arrival hall.

At the arrival hall, passengers are screened at one of the Port Health stations and results of their COVID-19 tests made known to them.

Arriving passengers who test negative proceed to immigration and onto baggage claim for their luggage and then exit the terminal.

Positive cases receive further clinical assessment and treatment.

The cost was on February 1, 2021 reviewed downwards to US$50 for ECOWAS nationals only. International passengers still pay US$150 for PCR test upon arrival.